Core barrel



- July 1, 1930. w. MQLAUGHLI 14,769,152

GORE BARREL Filed May 20, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet l 4k fqrrofefvvs July 1, 1930. w. LMCLAUGHLIN CORE BARREL Filed May 2o. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet FIEIQS.

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July 1, 1930. LMCLAUGHLIN GORE BARREL Filed May 20, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIII FIIELIE'I.

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||Ew. www L Imw Patented July 1, 1930 UNITE!) STATE-s PATENT OFFICE .WILLIAM I. MCLAUGHLIN, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARD OIL COMPANY 0F' CALIFORNIA, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Application led May 20,

improve upon core barrels of the prior art Hao whereby breakage and loss of cores is minimized. v d

It is a further object 'of the invention to generally improve upon the'construction of core barrels whereby lubricating mud is delivered more effectively to the cutting edges.

It is another object of the invention to devise improved means in. a core barrel for engaging and severing a core.

The invention possess other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing,

will be set forth at length in the following description, where I shall outline in full that form of my invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present speciiication. In said drawings I have shown one form of each of the devices of my invention, which cooperate `to produce the desired final result, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such forms of said devices, since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of other forms. i

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one form of my invention, showing parts which may be associated with the upper end of the core retainer.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2 2, Figure 1.

. Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-section 4 4, Figure 3.

Fi re 5 is a vertical section through a desirab e form of my core barrel.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6 6, Figure 5.

. Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the line 7 7, Figure 5. I

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on the line taken on the line 8 8, Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a device for CORE BARREL 1924. Serial No. 714,668.

indicating the strike and the dip of the formation composing the core. C

Figure 10 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 9.

Figure 1l is a development of the circular scale of the device of Figure 9.

The complete device illustrated in the drawing can be used to indicate the oriented position of a core which is taken from the earth, so that after the core has been removed, its position while in the earth may be accurately determined. However the features as claimed are applicable to core barrels or core drills in general. The means disclosed for fixing the indicator in fixed position while the core is still attached to the formation, is preferably time controlled, so that the position of the core at any selected time may be determined. This indicator and its operating means, hereinafter referred to generally as an indicating device, lcomprisesa housing 2 preferably made of paramagnetic material so that it will not interfere with the tendency of the magnetic needle to point to the true magnetic north. Arranged within the housing is a magnetic'needle 3 which is pivotally mounted in the casing 4, so that it is normally free to swing to point to the magnetic north. Associated with the needle 3 isa dial 5 for indicating the position of the housing with respect to the needle.- The housing 2 is rigidly secured to the core retainer 6 by a bolt 7 having an elongated projection 8 which seats in a groove in the housing.

The magnetic needle is provided with.

means for clamping it in ixed position in the casing 4, thisfmeans comprising a lever 27 disposed below the needle and having a raised end 28 disposed below the pin 9 arranged in the casing. Downward pressure on the pin-9 will raise the inner end of the lever 27 to lift the needle from its pivot and press it into Contact with the glass covered plate 12, thus ixing the needle in position. Time controlled means are provided for depressing the pin 9 at the end of a predetermined time to fix the needle in position. Arranged adj acent and preferably above the needle casing 4 is a clock mechanism contained in the housn ing 13, the housing 13 being provided on its under surface with a dial 14, having numbers indicating-.hours and movable over the dial 14, in the present instance in a counter-clockwise direction, is a hand 15 which is attached to a shaft 16 projecting from the clock mech-y anism housing 13. The shaft 16 is driven by the clock mechanism and preferably makes one rotation every 12 hours. The shaft 16 is manually movable to adjusted position by a thumb screw 29 on the end of the' shaft so that the position of the hand 15 on the dial 14 ma be readily set. The casing 13 is supporte p or connected to the casing 4 .by bolts 17, which are made of paramagnetic material. Secured to the shaftl 16 is an arm 18 which, in the present instance, is disposed in parallel relation with the hand 15.A The arm18 moves in a clockwise direction with respect to the dial 5 and the hand 15 moves in a counter-clockwise direction with res ect to the dial 14, this being caused by the act that the two dials are opposed to each other. Pivoted to the frame 21, which is supported by the bolts 17, is a spring arm 22 which normally rides on a circumferential ridge 23 on the casing 4. The ridge 23 is provided at the position of the pin 9 with a notch or cut-out por-- tion 24 into which the spring arm 22 falls when the arm is movedinto registry with the :'40 notch. The end of the arm 22 overlies the pin over thefnotch 24 and constitutes the zero 9 and when the arm 22 moves. into the notch 1 an`abutment 26 with which the arm 18movesl into contact 'as it is rotated by the time mechanism. When the arm 22 springs into `the notch 24, the abutment 26 is depressed below the end of the arm 18, so that the arm 18 mayl freely Ipass over the depressed abutment.' The dial numeral 12 on the 'dial 14 lies directly 0- sition of the hand 15. When it is desire to have the magnetic needle clamped in position at the end of two and a half hours, the hand 15 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2 and the spring arm 22 is lifted from the notch 24 and allowed to rest on the ridge 23 adjacent the notch. The time mechanism then drives the arm 15 toward the zero` hour position, consequentl moving'the arm 18 toward the arm 22. The end of the arm 18 is brought into contactwith the abutment-26 .and thus moves the arm 22 to spring into f the notch 24 and this will occur lwhen the position with clamped in position after the corel has been formed. Assuming that it will require approximately two hours to form the core, the

time mechanism may be set to cause the needle ed in the core barrel 31 by the bearings 32, sov

that the retainer may be held against rotation during the rotation 'of the core barrel in forming the core. The core retainer 6 is provided with meansfor engaging the core after it has entered the retainer, for the purpose of preventing rotation of the retainer.

The core remains fixed to the lformation until it is completely formed, so that the core remains stationary andwconsequent-v lyby causing the retainer to engage the core and mounting the retainer so that itis freely rotatable with respect to the core barrel, the i retainer remains stationary, or substantially stationary.

The core barrel y comprises' a head 33, a body rtion'344 and a drill portion, comprising t e outer drill bit 35 and the inner drill bit 36. These bits are formed of a plurality of teeth 37, so that'as thel core barrel is rotated the/formation is lcut to form the core. rl`he drill bit 36 cuts the core from the formation and the'drill bit 35 cuts the formation to permit the core barrel to descend in the hole. formed with rounded edges 38 sol that a flaring joint occurs between the formed" core i ll and the formation, thus strengthening the core at this point where it is sub 'ected to its greatest fracturing strain. If tpe edges 38 were formed at a right angle, as are the edges of the teeth of the drill 35, a sharp line of demarkation would occur betweenthe coreand the formation, that is, the -core would spring directlyv perpendicularly from The teeth 37 ,of the drill bit 36 are the formation at a Fright angled corner.

Should th'drillbits or either of them strike a boulder which was eccentric to the hole, the core barrel would be shifted vslightly to one side and.this, in many instances, would fracture the core from the,l formation wheny the core joins the formationl at a Shar angle.

By flaring out the joint, however, t e core f is much stronger at its base and consequently more able to resist fracturing strain.

The core retainer 6 is disposed within and spaced from the core barrel and the lower end of the retainer is disposed adjacent the drill bit 36, so that the core passes directly into the retainer. The retainer is provided throughout its length, with a plurality of inwardly inclined spring fingers 39 which enage the core as it enters the retainer and holds the retainer against rotation during the rotation of the core barrel; In the event that there is a slight rotation of the retainer with respect to the core, the pointed ends of f the fingers will scratch marks on the face of the core and an inspection of the core after it is removed from the retainer, will indicate the amount of rotation of the retainer with respect to the core and thus permit the exact original position of the core with respect to the retainer toD be determiiied. Since the direction indicator enclosed in the housing 2 is secured to the retainer, it is desirable to know the amount of rotation of the re-v tainer with respect to the core.l The retainer is split lon itudinally into two parts, which are normal y suitably held together and these parts are separated after the core barrel is withdrawn from the hole, for the purpose `of removing the core' fromA the retainer. The retainer is also provided with means for fracturing the core from the formation, when it is desired to lift the core barrel from the hole. rlhese means comprise a'plurality of 'toothed dogs 4l, pivoted in the `wall of the retainer and normally inclined` upward, so that they do not interfere .with the longitudinal movement of the core with respect to the retainer while the core is being formed. When it is desired to fracture the core from the formation, the core barrel is lifted .and the teeth of the dogs 41 bite intothe core and the dogs are forced downward to the position indicated in Figure 5 and during such downward movement they are forced intov the core and fracture the core transversely, and also act to support the core in the retainer as the core barrel is being lifted.. The dogs 41 are so formed that the rear surfaces thereof contact with the inner surface of the shank 42 of the inner drill bit, when the Vdogs lie in a horizontal position, to areinforce the dogs so that they .will not be broken from their pivotal mounting.

During the operation of the core barrel, mud is fed downward through the drilling tube, for the lpurpose of lubricating the bits and carrying away the material cut by the bits. rlhis mud passes downward through the passage 43 in the stem and thence through the passages 44 in the head 33 into the annular space between the retainer and the core barrel. From this annular space, some of the mud passes downward through the passages 45 in the core barrel and discharges between the outer drill bit 35 and the shank 42 of the inner drill bit and serves to lubricate the outer bit. A portion of the mud also passes downward through the annular passage 46 between the retainer andthe shank of the inner drill bit 36 and passes through the passages 47 in the mounting of the lower side of the core barrel.

ball bearing 32, into the annular chamber 48 formed between the retainer and the shank 42 of the inner drill. From the chamber 48, some of the mud passes through the passages 49 to the cutting edgesof the drill 36 and some of the mud passes through the narrow annular passage between the lower end of the retainer and the shank ofthedrill 36 to lu.- bricate the core and lubricate the inner cut ting edges of the drill 36. This mud then passes upward through the hole on the out- Provision is made for introducing a small quantity of mud into the retainer for the purpose oflubricating the core as it enters the retainer and, for this purpose, the retainer is provided adjacent its lower end with a plurality of small apertures 52 which communicate with the annular chamber 48.'

Before the core enters the retainer, the retainer is full of mud and means are provided for permitting the discharge of this mud fromv thel retainer as the core enters the retainer.- For thisy purpose vthe housing 2 is preferably mounted on lugs 53 at the top of the retainer, to provide a passage around the vhpusing for the mud. The retainer is and from this passagel the mud passes through the passage 55 in the head, past the ball valve 56 and through the apertures in the cage 57 into the transverse passages 58 which open on the side of the head. Provision is also made forl permittinga small amount `of the mud introduced through the passage 43 to enter the passages 58 for the purpose of lubricating the sides of the core barrel. For this purpose, the head is pro.

vided with a nipple 61 through which a.

small ainount of mud may pass to the chamber in which the cage 57 is disposed, this chamber being in communication with'the passages 58. The ball 56 prevents this mud from passing downward into the retainer, but permits the mud in the retainer to be forced out.

After the core of the desired length has been formed, the core barrel is permitted to remain stationary until after the expiration lof the predetermined time period for which provided in its upper end with a passage 54 netic needle and the reading of the needle is observed. f In figures 9, 10 and 11, l have shown a device for indicating the dip and strike of the formation of the core. This device comprises a protracto' adapted to be yapplied to the core to definitely indicate thedesired angles .of direction.

an arc. 67, which passes through a slot in:

the plate. The arc swings in a vertical plane vtangent to the cylinder 63 and preferablyl tangent to the cylinderat the south thereon. VThe cylinder isprovided with two `systems of graduations extending around its circumferencetle/iirstsystem of graduations 68 beingused for layingol anangle with respectv to a given point of direction. The second system of graduationsv 69 isused for measuring thel angle between two .given pointsV of directions'. The arc 67 is also raduated and is used for measurin the g g closing a chamber adapted to receive mud,

angle between any plane and the plane of the plate 65. A pointer 71 is arranged on the plate 65'to indicate the reading of the j graduations on the arc. The readings'taken around the circumference of the cylinder are considered as horizontal angles and the readings of the graduated arcare taken as lthe y directions from the horizontal.

In using the protractor, l the core is inserted through the cylinder 63 and the north point of the cylinder is placed on the refer-' ence line which has been scratched onthe r core. In casethe' core has been broken/into a plurality of portions the marks on thecore will indicatethe relative rotation between the portions and they may be rotated relative to each other to taketheir original position which they occupied iin the ground;

,in case the marks on the core show that rotation has taken place subsequent to the fixing of the needleuthe position f the mark l on the core may be accordingl corrected.

` The protrac'tor is then turned until a position willv befound where the trace rof the vdipping strata in the:V core appears asa straight line. Byiplacing the arm 66 of the vertical arc along this ,straight line, the degree'of the steepest dip of the s'tratamay be read on the vertical arc. .protractor in this position,

mark a point on the core at the north or south oints on the Holding the said barrel, said retainer being journaled at its upper end' to a head secured to said barrel and journaled within said core cuttin drill at its lower end, means for allowing mud to circulate down between said hole and core cutting drills, and means for allowing mud to circulate down between said core retainer and core cutting drill.

inner and outer annular drill bits onfsaid barrel, conduitsin saidbarrel for conveying mud 3.IA core barrel comprising a barrel en;

to the outer drill bit and tothe inner cutting d edges of the inner, drill bit,- and separateconduits in the inner drill bit extending substantially to the lower end thereof for conveying '4. In a device of the class described, a core barrel having a head, a hollow drill stem seured'to said headthru which mud is to be circ ted downwardly, a core retainer rotatto the bottom cutting'edges of the inner abl Amounted within said barrel, the upper en of said retainer bein journaled upon said head, a passage in the ead communicating between said stem-and core retainer, a check valve'with'in said passage to prevent flow of mnd into/the v.reta1ner, and another passage within said head communicating between the exterior of the/ barrel and said first named -passage/fat a point above said valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set myhand.V Y l WILLIAM I. MCLAUGHLIN.

graduaaans and this lwin indicate, the line i of steepest dip projected up tothe horizontal points, one

plane.' There is then present on the core two and one in t e direction of the4 steepest dip.

int in the direction ofnorth Turning the protractor around until 4the* j "northpoint on the fgraduatedcylinder' cor.` l

responds to the north point marked on the .of the steepest dip scratched on the core.

core, direction of di on the graduations o the Ascale 69 at thepoint n 1. A core barrel comprising a'barrel, avcore retainer rotatably mounted within the barrel,

mayy be read directly y 

